Viewer's Guide to the Republican CNN/YouTube Debate

The Republican presidential candidates, (L-R) Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, and Mitt Romney, at the Republican Party Of Florida debate on October 21, 2007.

4. Democratic Candidates' Queries
Among the 5,000 submissions, two individuals are unique participants. Two Democrats running for president, Sen. Chris Dodd and Rep. Dennis Kucinich, have questions among the mix. Dodd, with his campaign sign in the backdrop, introduces himself as a resident of Haddam, Conn., though he admits that he and his family are "spending a little bit of time in Iowa these days." He asks the GOP contenders if they feel citizens have to give up their constitutional rights to make the country safer. Kucinich, in his video posted by a supporter, asks if any of the Republican candidates would consider a piece of legislation advocating the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney. The idea of Democratic candidates being part of the debate was so "brilliant," according to one fan, that a Facebook group attracting 80-some members was created in order to support the asking of Dodd's question.

5. Ron Paul Supporters' Questions
It's pretty difficult to talk about the Internet and the presidential election without making some reference to GOP hopeful and libertarian Rep. Ron Paul, the onetime darkest of dark-horse candidates who has now made a prominent name for himself thanks to his avid supporters and the World Wide Web. Of the Republican candidates, Paul by far has had the most support online, and many of the video submissions are directed toward learning more about his unique policies. However, Paul might not necessarily be the best-performing candidate of the debate. Ruffini speculated that the format might play to the strengths of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who became accustomed to answering impromptu questions from reporters while holding press conferences in the Big Apple.